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The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Senior Team continued their indifferent post-2016 Olympic qualifying series form tonight, falling 1-2 to Panama in a friendly international match at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
The Women Soca Warriors struck first through a crashing Shanelle Arjoon header in the 31st minute, following a fine right-side Mariah Shade cross. But the advantage lasted barely six minutes as Panama captain Natalia Mills equalised with a simple finish off a right-side cross before the visitors went ahead in the 42nd minute through an angled finish from midfielder Laurie Batista.
Panama won 2-1.
(Copyright Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago head coach Jamaal Shabazz can point to significant absences within his ranks as Kennya “Yaya” Cordner, Kimika Forbes, Arin King, Ahkeela Mollon, Dernelle Mascall and Maylee Attin-Johnson were all no-shows.
Still, the Women Warriors are ranked 48th in the world by FIFA, had home advantage and have been in training for just over year. In contrast, Panama, whose last international ranking was 119th, are unranked owing to inactivity for over 18 months.
Perhaps understandably, Panama goalkeeper Yenith Bailey made the unusual move of running the ball into the corner of her penalty area to waste time in a fixture that had only bragging rights at stake.
The Trinidad and Tobago women have to go as far back as 16 February, 2016 for their last win, which was a thumping 5-1 triumph over Guyana in the Rio 2016 Olympic qualifying series.
Since then, the Women Warriors have lost 0-5 to the United States—four days later—before a barren run of friendlies, as they managed a goalless draw and 3-1 loss to Venezuela last year under Carolina Morace before starting life under Shabazz with a 1-2 defeat to Panama. Venezuela, incidentally, are ranked 63rd in the world.
Panama won 2-1.
(Copyright Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Cordner, Attin-Johnson and Mollon did not feature in any of Trinidad and Tobago’s last three friendly matches and will not be available on Saturday either.
Tonight, St Louis was at the heart of much of the host’s attacking efforts while Arjoon was lively throughout and Francois and Shade had their moments. But the Women Warriors often relied on individual ability on the ball and ran out of steam well before the final whistle against the more collective Central America team.
The two nations meet again from 4pm on Saturday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.
(Teams)
Trinidad and Tobago (4-2-3-1): 1.Nicolette Craig (GK); 8.Patrice Superville, 2.Ayana Russell (3.Anastasia Prescott 83), 5.Jenelle Cunningham (6.Natasha St Louis 74), 7.Jonelle Cato; 14.Karyn Forbes, 10.Tasha St Louis (captain); 9.Mariah Shade (15.Kedie Johnson 84), 11.Janine Francois (13.Shenieka Paul 83), 12.Shanelle Arjoon; 17.Andrea Young (18.Naomie Guerra 46).
Unused substitutes: 21.Tenesha Palmer (GK), 16.Nathifa Hackshaw.
Coach: Jamaal Shabazz
Panama (4-2-2-2): 1.Yenith Bailey (GK); 16.Katherine Lineth, 4.Hilary Jaen, 5.Yomira Pinzon, 3.Maria Murillo; 2.Laurie Batista (7.Yasil Atencio 84), 14.Aldrith Quintero; 6.Kenia Rangel, 19.Natalia Mills (captain) (11.Maria Guevara 69); 9.Karla Riley (10.Schiandra Gonzales 84), 15.Lineth Cedeno (18.Erika Hernandez 68).
Unused substitutes: 12.Sasha Fabrega (GK), 8.Rebeca Espinoza, 13.Onelys Alvarado, 17.Anuvis Angulo.
Coach: Victor Suarez
Referee: Crystal Sobers
Friendly international
Trinidad and Tobago 1 (Shanelle Arjoon 31), Panama 2 (Natalia Mills 37, Laurie Batista 42) at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Editor’s Note: See Wired868 tomorrow for full match report with comments from Trinidad and Tobago head coach Jamaal Shabazz.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
WATCH: Highlights of Trinidad and Tobago Women’s 2-1 loss to Panama.
..Halleluiah! We just beat Guadeloupe 1:0..
Not sure what is more entertaining Donald Trump tweets, or the excuses for local football.
Lasana, I would love to more interviews from the past women about what went wrong while they were there, and what they think is still wrong. They have retired, they can no longer be afraid of victimization.
Afraid of victimization? Where have you been all this time when the former captain was speaking out. She was labeled a troublemaker by the old boys network who couldn’t coach a rat to eat cheese.
I know of this and more, but they are no longer players
..We are doing NOTHING to improve DOMESTIC football – WOLF is a joke – but we spending scarce money hosting international football and fooling ourselves by hoping for the best..
.What was the last game ANY of our teams won? OK, USA in the Hex but Oh God!!.SALT!..
What was the last game one of our female teams won?
WATCH: Comments from Jamaal Shabazz
Let’s see what the next game brings
Shouldn’t greater blame be heaped on coaching staff if they keep pampering and harboring a teamload of semi-fit players?
Of course this is separate to the other key components of mental preparedness and a winning attitude coupled with dynamic of technical ability, creativity and proficiency of team play.
Could it also be that some of the absent marquee players are less than inclined to play under the existing technical set-up?
My guess is as good as anyone else’s.
All the national teams are poor
Even the best programmes in TTO sport seem to get periodisation wrong. Should come as no surprise that this team can’t seem to get it right on time.
These set of nowadays players have to many distractions hence the reason why our football in a mess and kill them dead they are ready for the big times. Them really good yes
Lasana Liburd out football has drop bad under this president and he don’t care !!!!!An he sleeps comfortable at nights smh
I think fitness is a recurring problem. How can a team that has been together for a year be unfit?
Cause the training sessions focus mainly on ball retention and winning back the ball.
We rarely have fitness sessions within national trainings.
Cardiovascular fitness is not there and it cannot be achieved by running up and down a field …. we have to commit to PERIODIZATION…. conditioning programs using periodization to break up the training program into the off-season, preseason, in-season and the postseason… will achieve this…
Magic beans, we ran out of magic beans
…but it wouldn’t be long before we have ourselves a bunch of has-beens so fear not!
It is amazing so many people know the answer, and the coaches seem not to!
Laziness and lack of committment by Coaches…unsure of their future so long term planning is not a priority
Are you sure they have the knowledge?
Lasana you are a joker. What’s the one thing both teams have in common. Lol
Eh… Red, white and black? Lol.
That’s usually a sign of a fitness issue, no?
I hope this is not going to be a recurring theme like what happened with our U-20s. Scoring first, but not being able to see the game out.